Educational toy



Oct. 7,.1952 AMSEL 2,612,708

EDUCATIONAL TOY Filed Jan. 27, 1951 lz'sA 4a :12 30 so B INVENTOR LAWRENCE AMSEL BY j ZTTORNEY Patented Oct. 7, 1952 UNITED}. STATES PATENT OFF-ICE Q I -asmaos EDUCATIONAL TOY .LawrenceiAmsel, Philadelphia, Pa. 1 Application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208.144

My invention relates to a toy and relates par ticularly to atoy utilizing cut-outs and inserts a toy which will afford hours of amusement to a child.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy wherein a picture is associated with its name in such a manner that when the proper inserts representing the letters of the name are inserted, the picture is illuminated indicating the correct association.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a new and novel toy, which is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly effective in use.

With the above and related objects in view, myinvention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood when the following description is read in conjunction with the followin drawing, in which:

Fig; 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the indicating mechanism of my invention. v

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial view of Fig. 3 illustrating the circuit for actuating the indicating mechanism of my invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, I show a case, generally designated as A, a cover for said case, generally designated as B, and inserts to fit cutout portions in said cover, generally designated as C.

The case A may be made of wood, plastic, or other suitable material. The case A is of a generally rectangular configuration and box-like construction having a bottom l defined by a pair of perpendicular upright walls I2, I4 attached to opposite sides of said bottom, and another pair of perpendicular upright walls I 6, l8 attached to opposite ends of said bottom ID. A thin partition 20 separates the hollow interior defined by the said walls into two recesses 22A and 2213. The

3 Claims. (Cl. 35-35) 2 walls l2, l6 and I8 are each provided with a shelf 12A, 16A and l8A,-respectively, at their top edge to' support the cover 13. The wall I4 is slightly lower than the mall to permit the cover B to be slid onto the to of case A.

The recess 22A is provided with a plural reflector 24, formed of a suitable material, which is fastened to the partition 20 by means of a plurality of flashlight bulbs 26 engaging individual sockets 28 imbedded in the partition 20. The reflector 24 is formed in such a manner that only a section of the recess 22A is illuminated when onebulb 26 is lit up, and as each succeeding bulb 26 is lit another section of the recess 22A is illuminated so that all the bulbs 26 must be lit to illuminate the entire recess 22A.

It should be understood that if plastic is used for the case A, the reflector 24 and the partition 20 may be formed contiguous with the said walls and bottom of the case A. It should also be kept in mind that the reflector 24 may be fastened'to the bottom ID with a full length of the section ofrecess 22A illuminated. In other words, the

reflector 24 having its curvilinear portion longitudinally disposed to said bottom and fastened by any suitable means to saidbottom.

The recess22B is utilized to hold and secure a plurality of batteries 30 by means of a plurality of clamps 32 fastened to the bottom ,Hl of the case A. -A plurality of springs'34 are provided to complete the circuits from the positive to the negative electrode of each battery 30 through a separate bulb 26, that is; each spring 34 completes a circuit between one battery 30 and one bulb 26. The springs 34 are all constructed in the same manner and are of generally U-shaped configuration having legs 36 and 38 and a base 40. The leg 36 has a bore therethrough through which a screwpasses to secure the leg 36 loosely to the partition 20. The leg 38 has a bore therethrough through which a screw 44 passes to hold the leg 38 securely to the wall I4. The leg 38 has a convex portion 38A near its free end to contact the bottom of the battery 30 and hold the central electrode of the battery 30 against the central contact of the bulb 26. The base 40 of the springs 34 is provided with a slightly raised portion 46 substantially at the center of said base 40. When the raised portion 46 is depressed in any manner the spring 34 bends downwardly tending to separate the legs '36 and 38 but as the leg 38 is securely attached only the leg 3.6 moves and contacts the outer terminal of the bulb 26 to complete the circuit through the said battery and bulb, whereby said bulb 26 is lit.

The cover B for the case A comprises a flat piece of translucent material of a configuration to interfit and be supported by the shelves I ZA, ISA and 18A with the backof the cover extending to the wall [4. The portion of the cover B over the recess 22A is provided with a picture of an object, person, animal, etc. 48, while the portion of the cover B over the recess 22B is provided with a plurality of cut-out portions 50, coinciding substantially with the, raised portion 46 of each spring 34. The plurality of cut-outs 50 below the picture 38 is of such a configuration that it is suggestive of the letter to be inserted.

The inserts C are formed to fit loosely into the cut-outs 50 and also have a configuration suggestive of the letter each insert bears. When the proper insert C is placed in any particular cut-. out 50, the weight of the insertC depresses the spring 34 to complete a circuit through a; flash light bulb 26 and a battery 30 to illuminate one section of the recess 22A. I v

A plurality of covers B are provided, each with the picture of a difierent object, pe'rson, animal er cut-out, a section .of the picture is illuminated,-

and when the child has. successfullyv associated the object withthe name. and spelling therefor, the complete picture is lit up.-.

It is pointed out, that my invention resides in a plate which is provided with aplurality of cut-- outs which are suggestive of letters to spell out the name of an object pictured on the plate, and

a plurality of inserts eachj also suggestive ofja letter so that when the properinsert is, chosen, it can readily be fitted, into a cut-out. i Whenlall the cut-outs are filled, the name of the obj @912 pic-,

tured is spelled out. I

Although my invention has considerable detail, such description is; merely meant to be illustrative rather than limiting, as

my invention may; be variously embodied, andthe scope of the invention is to be determinedas claimed. 1 1

.I claim as my invention;

1. An educational toy comprising an, openbeen Assa ese topped receptacle, a wall in the interior of said respondingly shaped cut-out portion, said filler means being adapted to actuate said switch so as to-connect said power means to said illuminating 'respondingbulb, c r 2 I 3. The device of claim 2 wherein each of said switch means comprises-a bent spring overlying abattery, said spring havin one end connected to a wall of said receptacleand h-avingits other end normally adjacent to but spacedafrom an opening in the wall in the interior of said receptacle, said opening beingadaptedto receive "the socket of a bulb, said spring being further provided with an upstanding central portion extend- R,prism: ons crrEn Y The following referencesgare'ofrecordflin the fileof this patent: 1 a v UNITED STATES ATENT "rose Number, Name 1 1 ,273,7c3 Garman ;j.iuiy;2 3,'1 is 2,492,517 Goldfarb 'Dec'. 2'7, 1949 2,498,578 Reinnagel Feb. 21, 1950 Composto Apr. 25, 1950 

